Event Recap: Diversability Unplugged: The True Cost of Disability
By Arielle Dance, Writer at Diversability
For August’s Diversability Unplugged, we partnered with Blend, the infrastructure powering the future of banking. The lively panel discussion, The True Cost of Disability, aimed to address financial equity in the disabled community and services that are available. This is Blend and Diversabilty’s second partnered event— in 2021, the two organizations collaborated on Exploring Homeownership and the American Dream in the Disability Community.
Account Manager at Blend Janell Stemrich (she/her) moderated four dynamic finance experts. The panel included Dante Allen (he/him), Executive Director of CalABLE, Matthew Cortland (they/them), Senior Resident Fellow Data For Progress, Rich Donovan, CEO The Return on Disability Group, and Tina Mathams (she/her), accountant and financial coach.
The panel responded to engaging questions about disability financial equity, navigating the medical systems, and moving forward post-pandemic. Their personal narratives highlighted the importance of continued financial education in the disabled community. With over 225 registered attendees, we knew this was a topic that our community desired to learn more about.
Discussion Overview
Janell started with a question to lay the groundwork for the discussion, what are the biggest financial challenges facing people with disabilities today. Dante highlighted the baseline of the financial disparities in the disabled community—
“We sit outside of the mainstream of our economic systems. People with Disabilities work less than our counterparts, without disabilities … and when we do work, we're under employed, meaning that we are employed below our training and education..we often earn less money. We are often unbanked, which means that when we interact with our financial systems, we are using the most expensive and least effective means to access money and other resources.”
This reminded participants of three main points: disabled people earn less money, have higher expenses, but there are opportunities to try and rectify the issue. Tina elaborated on Dante’s point, recognizing that there is a lack of financial education and that disabled people are not getting the information from financial institutions.
Rich and Tina noted that disabled people have a strong desire to work and meet the expectations of the workforce but are faced with challenges along the way. Rich explains that the productivity of disabled people is the same as their counterparts but the effort is greater — more energy and resources dispensed. Disabled people have to work harder to match the work of their peers.
Matthew emphasized that a major barrier to financial equity for disabled people is inflation. The costs of living are going up rapidly and there are no responses from society about how this impacts disabled people. With gas prices rising, disabled people still have to travel to appointments. With supply chain shortages, disabled people suffer from shortages of their medications, supplies, and equipment. This inflation equates to a disability tax.
Is Accessibility a Luxury?
When discussing the hidden cost of disability, Janell prompted the panel about how accessibility is often treated as a luxury where disabled people must spend extra money to make life more accessible to them.
Tina reiterated the importance of financial education but stressed that it is not available to everyone– raising the question of who has the “right” or the “power” to access financial planning formation. Knowing this acknowledges that there is a level of privilege in learning financial information as well as having access to insurance coverage and up to date medical equipment. Matthew explained that this is a larger discussion about what society deems as a medical necessity on behalf of disabled people.
For Rich, now is the time to call on large-scale corporations to take action in accessibility equity. Rich shared that most of society sees disabled people as “other”, different, and something to take care of. However, the disabled community has a responsibility to convince them to shift their mindset and reach our level of understanding of our community’s power.
Dante acknowledged his own privilege as a disabled person with great insurance coverage. However, even insurance has limitations and restrictions based on what they believe is in the best interest of their disabled clients. This mindset disregards what is best for the mental health of disabled insurance users.
Amidst the conversation of accessibility and the policing of disabled bodies by the medical system, a conversation sparked about the language used towards disabled people and how that allows abelists to view and treat disabled bodies. Dante noted that when disabled people allow society to define them, it makes the individual a problem that needs to be fixed rather than focusing on a solution of equity. For Dante, that means not wanting to be defined as “confined to a wheelchair”.
Matthew continued the discussion, noting that disabled people move out of survival. Matthew admitted that he doesn't like that medical professionals get to decide what accommodations disabled people get in work or school; nor what medical equipment is needed. “It’s insulting.. You obviously know what you need better than any damn medical professional.”
Altogether, panelists agreed that the medical model and the ableist society have deeply impacted finances and decision making around what disabled people deserve.
Equity in Financial Systems
When Janell asked the panel how the disconnect between access and equity in financial institutions/other services is visible and the ways it can be addressed, the panelists immediately acknowledged the ableist society as a primary barrier.
Dante noted that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) opened the door but it didn’t give full access to the rights — equity is still missing. He further defined equity in relation to disable financial equity in comparison to racial equity. “Equity is not just being able to get in the door, but [having] a purpose once you're inside. It is the opportunity to participate. It's not just showing up, it is having a seat at the table, having the ability to buy that lunch.” This is not just recognition for showing up but the need for more than just being in the room, disabled people want to have their opinions taken seriously and to see substantial change in response.
To follow up, Tina echoed Dante’s statement by posing the question, once we get access, how do these institutions really help us? The memorable example here is when filing taxes. If someone struggles to meet deadlines due to their disability, there is a need for systems and accommodations to help them meet their deadline or be granted extensions without penalty.
Moving Forward After COVID-19
It is no secret that financial systems have struggled due to the pandemic. Janell questioned whether it is possible to push towards “business as usual” in what some would call a post-COVID world impacting people with disabilities.
The panelist addressed the positive impacts the pandemic has had on the disabled community including flexible work schedules, remote work opportunities, and teaching the rest of the world what disabled people experience — immobilization, unmet needs, and limited access to care.
Matthew acknowledged the grief and anger that the pandemic brought that many people are still managing. As some workplaces are rushing people back to work/school for productivity, it may not be safe for disabled employees or students causing additional stress financially and on their health. There is potential to pause for stronger protocol consideration as society continues to move forward in a world where COVID-19 is still very present.
Overall, the event was full of honest advice and relevant examples that attendees could relate to. Attendees left with resources and reminders to be honest about their money management, learn more about current legislation, and to be an advocate for their health and finances.
If you couldn’t catch the event live, you can catch the recording on your own time linked below!